Gibbs Correspondence: 1952

January 28,1952

Dear Stuart*

Greetings and salutations. Hope you, Edith and the kids are
well.

Was just recently trying to make some room in the files and
ran accross our correspondence back in 1949 when I wrote yovi about
a number of unpublished coins counterstamped a large * V * crowned
and on vhich Doug. Ferguson and myself had finally reached a
conclusion. *y records show that you asked me to send the coins
to the A.N.S. for photographing and that I had done 3 c BUT I hare
never seen the article. Did it get lost*/

Am quite busy as I have ade up my rind uo get my huge collec¬
tion completely catalogued, sell what I wanted to, keep and add to
what I like best, and then still have time to travel and enjoy
the balance of this short period on earth. Have done very well and
eir now in the middle of the cataloguing of the odd and curious.

The $64.00 questions, after I get the catalogue end the illustr¬
ations finished is *where can I find an institution or an organiz¬
ation who will be interested in acquiring the collection to be used
for educational purposes and numismatic advancement*. Under no
con ition will I permit it to go to an institution where it will be
buried in the ’morgue'. Have you any suggestions? The collection
is immense and the catalogue alone will run several hundred pages
BUT it is the post r epresentative collection of what has been used for
oney in existence as flar as I know.

All coins are now sold, except the huge German series, the coins
of the Netherlands and the Orientals. The cut and or counterstamped
coins and siege pieces A'.E NOT catalogued, won’t be for the time
being and will ;30T bo for sale. This series I shall continue to go
after.

I know you must be very busy but I will be pleased to hear from,
you at your convenience. Kindest regards

Sincerely,

february 22, 1952

Fr. Iraul B. Re inhold,
ochenley Apartments,
Pittsburgh, Penna.

Dear Pail:

Greetings, -tong time no see.

You will remember that my hobby has been the
collecting of coins and media of exchan e used in all
parts of the world during all periods of time.

The time has come when l must consider the proper
disposition of this vast collection, financially the best
method would be to place it with a reputible dealer and
have it offered to collectors through a public auction bUT
it would be a crying shame to have the collection dispersed
in this manner if there is any possibility of getting the
right people to take it over and make it available for public
display.

it is my intention in the next few months to try
to find such an institution or individual or foundation
and if they will agree to house end display it properly 1
am willing to offer it for OLE HALF what it c ost. under
no circumstance will I have it go to some musty old museum
where it would end up in dead storage.

You have seen part of the collection..a snail part
end it might help if I had letters from a few individuals
such as yourself, expressing in their own way what they found
interesting about it and the storied beck of some of the
specimens. Would you care to write such a letter?

1 would also appreciate any suggestions as to whom
1 sight ap. roac’r . First 1 am going to see Mr. Adolph oehmidt
who represents Fr. Paul kellon. 1 talked to him some years
ago and at that time he suggested that 1 compile a complete
catalogue of my collection. This 1 have just finished and
hope to show him in the near future.

Will appreciate hearing from you.

Sincerely yours,

Howard D. Gibbs